Integrated Safety in Flexible Manufacturing Systems

Abstract

In the case of machine tools, turning machines, milling machines and machining centres the machine user is part of the production process. To give the worker more possibilities to intervene in the production process it is desirable to work close to the motions of the machine axis. Intelligent computer based systems are able to introduce new safety technologies into the machines. A close connection between motion control and safety monitoring can realize protection corridors in space and velocity. Therefore new technologies, e. g. movement monitoring, are necessary to avoid hazardous situations. Many manufactures of power drive systems established a new technology for fault tolerant movement controls. In comparison to former monitoring systems the reaction time can be decreased by more than one order of magnitude. The authors present the application and the way of validation and testing of such complex systems.